You are what you post!

We’ve all heard the old saying, more than likely from your sweet grandmothers, “You are what you eat!” But in today’s tech savvy world with access to social media outlets at our finger tips, we should rephrase the saying to “You are what you post!”

I know this isn’t new news, but I am constantly surprised by the amount of personal and unflattering information people blast on social media sites. When considering your image, especially your professional image, it is always great to remember: “You are what you post!” Every time you post something to a social media site, you are building a personal brand, whether or not that is your intent.

What do your social media sites say about you? Is everything you post about partying until 3 am? Are all your comments negative? Do you vent about your personal situations? We know that social media isn’t going anywhere, so why not use this avenue to your advantage?

In order to ensure you like what you’re posting, here are a few helpful tips:

1. Know your audience. Know who you’re “friends” with on Facebook or who is following you on Twitter. If you are friends with your boss or co-workers, it’s probably not the best idea to vent about how you hate your job.

2. Check out of “checking in.” Think twice before checking in on Facebook or allowing others to check you in. It could create an image of you that you don’t want or it could also leak secret information about a potential business deal. Not to mention, the world now knows when you are not at home, which opens up the risk for your home and valuables to be compromised.

3. Protect your passwords. To avoid being hacked, make sure you don’t leave your account open or have an obvious password.

4. Don’t use social media under the influence. You’re not supposed to drink and drive, and I am proposing that you shouldn’t party and post. When you are under the influence you lose your inhibition and could say something you may regret.

5. The Front Page Newspaper effect. If you wouldn’t want your post to be on the front of the Sunday newspaper, then don’t post it! Wait… social media is starting to become the newspaper after all!

So remember that old advice from your sweet grandmother (with a little twist), the next time you want to share something on social media. Will that post help or hurt your personal brand? Because after all…. “You are what you post!”

amanda.robbins@mattressfirm.com

Wag Your Tail

You want people to like you? Make them feel important. The way you greet them and interact with them each and every time you see them dictates how they will treat you. Let’s take this obvious life lesson and look at it from a dog’s perspective.

Below you will see the picture of the world’s best dog. Yep, hands down… World’s. Best. Dog.

The Best Dog Competition hasn’t become an Olympic Sport yet, but when it does, the dog below would win Gold. If Forbes had a 100 Best Dogs list, this dog would be in the number one spot. If Donald Trump put on the Miss Universe Dog competition, this dog would be crowned and go on to figure out a way to find World Peace. Meet Ms. Lucille Ludens…

For any dog lovers reading this, I anticipate you may engage me in a heated discussion about how my claims are offensive because your dog is actually more qualified for the Gold. To that discussion, I acquiesce… because I know that every dog owner (well, about every dog owner… I have a few friends who aren’t sure they’re “dog people”) thinks their dog is the best in each and every way. And rightfully so.

I think the reason dog owners are so “territorial” over their dogs’ greatness is because their greatness isn’t necessarily award or medal-winning. It isn’t remarkably dignified or USA Today worthy. What makes them so great is their ability to make us feel important.

One of my favorite parts of my day is coming home after a long day at work and running to Lucille’s “office” at the back of the house and opening the door—there is more excitement and energy waiting behind that door than I experience all day. She jumps up and down, spins all around, does a lap around our house and then comes right back to see me. There is no one (that’s right, not even my 4 & 2 year old boys) who show me this much excitement.

Dogs truly have an innate ability with the love and energy they share with us humans. They aren’t afraid to wear their “heart on their sleeve” and don’t hold a grudge against us when we don’t reciprocate the excitement. They know when we are feeling sad and without doubt do what they can to cheer us up. It’s hard not to forgive the occasional accident in the house or the dug up flower bed when they constantly respond with unending love, right?

Imagine if you made people at work feel this way. What if you greeted everyone with a “wagging tail”? What if you could sense when someone was down and you did whatever you could to make them feel better? What if rather than holding a grudge against someone who frustrated you, you immediately forgave them? What if you always made everyone feel important?

So take a lesson from a dog. Wag your tail, jump around, make people feel loved and important… and more often than not, they will likely “throw you a bone”…

abby.ludens@mattressfirm.com

Business Professional vs. Business Casual

There are always new fashion trends in the magazines and media, so it is easy to confuse the difference between how to dress in business professional attire versus business casual. Even though it’s currently fashionable to wear colorful blazers, my advice would be to stick to the basics when it comes to interviewing! Employers expect you to be in your most impressive state during an interview. So, when deciding what you should and shouldn’t wear to an interview, be safe and dress business professional to make the best impression! After all, it would be a bummer if a simple wardrobe change would have landed you the job.



mens-fashion.lovetoknow.com

BUSINESS CASUAL

• Oxford shirts that button down

• Polo-style shirts with collars

• Sweater vests

• Sports jackets

• Chinos-type pants

• Khakis

• Dress slacks

Also, you have more leeway when it comes to color selection. For instance, various shades from beige to green to pink are all perfectly appropriate colors.

www.novaler.com

BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL

• Suit

• Skirt Suit (knee-length)

• Dress slacks

• Tie

• Dress Shoes (closed-toed ladies)

• Button down collared shirt

No matter what suit you wear, your attire should be neat. The suit should be free of wrinkles and not have any tears or stains. Shoes should be cleaned and polished. Men should avoid a silly tie and stick to conservative designs with solids or stripes. Women should avoid revealing too much cleavage or wearing too much jewelry or accessories.

ashley.gonzales@mattressfirm.com



Career Fairs: How to Succeed & Leave a Lasting Impression



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Career fairs offer job seekers the opportunity to meet many employers in a very short time. This encounter typically will determine whether or not you will make it to the first step of the interview process, which could be a phone interview or a face to face interview. To ensure that you will make it to the next step, I have included a list that will help you leave a lasting impression with the employers you meet.



Look the part: A sure way to get noticed is to look sharp! This typically means a dark suit, matching shoes, ironed shirt and a nice tie. In addition, as you approach the employer, don’t forget to smile and give a firm, confident handshake.

Know what employers will attend the career fair and research the ones you like: Knowing what employers are attending helps you maneuver through the career fair and helps you manage your time efficiently. Once you’ve identified the employers you will approach, visit their websites and social media sites to show the employers, through your knowledge, that you are genuinely interested in a position with them.

Have your 30 second commercial ready: Sell yourself! Treat the career fair as a series of very brief interviews and let the employers know about your educational background, relevant experience and any qualifications that you think are important. Practicing your 30 second commercial out loud guarantees that it will be delivered smoothly.

Follow up: Ask the recruiter you met with for their card and follow up within 48 hours. Emails are a great way to follow up because it allows you to thank the recruiter for their time, reiterate your strengths and interest in the company and attach your resume.

Following these steps will really allow you to differentiate yourself from your competition and will leave a lasting impression with the employers you meet.

Share your 30 second commercial with edith.botello@mattressfirm.com

Are you just laying bricks or are you building the future you always dreamed of?

While visiting China this summer, I got the chance to visit with several companies and hear from different managers. Each of them provided a different perspective on leadership and how they motivated their teams. One of the managers that really stuck out to me told a great story that resonated with me in regards to motivation and finding a greater purpose at work.



 http://www.przepisnadom.pl



The story goes….

There were three brick layers in Beijing. When you asked the first brick layer what his job was each and every day he simply responded, “I am a brick layer, I simply lay bricks.”

When he asked the second brick layer what his job was he responded, “I am building the streets of Beijing.” This response was a little more promising and showed that the brick layer had a little more motivation and satisfaction in his job.

When he asked the third brick layer what his job was he replied, “I am building the future of China!” Wow! This really made me think. This person, whom one could feel sorry for, barley scrapping bye each day, working in the blistering heat and putting his body through physical pain each and every day, was truly grateful and motivated by his job! He had a bigger purpose.

When I heard this story it made me realize that this can apply to everything you do. I am not just a member of the talent acquisition team with Mattress Firm; I am building the future of my company. So I ask you to think about your current career or your job search. Are you taking the approach of the first brick layer- simply looking at the surface of your current job? Are you more like brick layer number two -you see a little value in your daily work? Or, are you like brick layer number three-motivated to not only do the best you can do each and every day, but motivated to build a better future for yourself, your family and your company?

In the end there is only one person who can change the way you perceive your life and how you view your work each and every day… and that person is you!

Make it a great day and go build that future you have always dreamed of…. one brick at a time!

amanda.robbins@mattressfirm.com

Say Cheese! Or, should you?



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Working for an organization where first impressions truly are everything, I understand the pressure some may feel to make it a great one. Your resume happens to be the first impression you make with an organization and let’s be clear; a photo on a resume is more of a distraction.

We’ve all seen those awkward family photos on the Internet (if you haven’t, you can check out www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com  for a nice laugh) and that can be the impression you give. A resume is meant to market your skills, employment history and educational background. Unless you are applying for a job where physical appearances are a requirement, go ahead and leave that cheesy smile for a formal interview!

Hoarding



steveseay.com



Hoarding (n) – (hawr-ding)



1. The act of a person who hoards

2. Things that are hoarded

I know what you are thinking, “why am I reading a blog about hoarding on a hiring tips blog spot?” I have had the pleasure of being considered a “hoarder” by my friends and coworkers; it seems that I am an individual that happens to keep every single piece of paper ever given to them. Recently, I had to move desk and it gave me an opportunity to purge a lot of old, outdated and useless items and it got me thinking, how many of us are hoarding on our resumes? Or during an interview?

If you can answer YES to any of the questions below then you may be a hoarder.

1. Is your resume over 1 page in length?

2. Do you have a college education and are still listing your high school alma mater?

3. Have you been listing classes taken in college?

4. Are you listing your computer proficiency skills?

5. Do you have your glamour shots copy and pasted on your resume?

Are you possibly hoarding during an interview?
1. Did you spend 20 minutes talking about your last 10 jobs?
2. While you are answering a question do you forget the question?
3. Have you ever said, “oh, that happens plenty of time” and then don’t provide a specific answer because you can’t pull one out of your experiences?

Again, if you have answered YES to any of these questions, you may be a hoarder. It’s time to unclutter your resume and practice interviewing. Utilize your friends and family members to proofread and critique your resume before it is submitted. Schedule a time to have a practice interview so you do not over talk during the important one. Research interview questions online and write out specific examples you can use and rehears speaking them out loud. If you have been having a hard time landing your favorite job it’s time to take some ownership and get organized!

Unclutter with Brandee directly at brandee.baker@mattressfirm.com